including people in a little place called california. ironically enough, nevada. yes, people who live in the shadow of the las vegas strip cannot make this bet, at least not in their own state. still, thousands from both states flocked to stores along the arizona border every time the jackpot gets this big. >> i want to win so i can put it all on the 49ers. >> reporter: which leads me to my last question. it was inspired by something everyone's favorite sports reporter observed last night on our station. >> these stories kill me. what is it, like 425 million, everybody goes nuts. they have to by a lottery ticket. 147, i'll wait. i will take the $100 million. that's just me. >> are the smaller jackpots a better bet? >> in one sense knock. you always to have pay $2 to play. the smaller the jackpot, the smaller the expected payoff. however work larger jackpot there is a higher chance you might have to split the pot so it is a tradeoff. >> reporter: by the way, the good professor, the one who actually understand that's formula, said he has never played the lottery. ev